New Year's Week Long Sunrise Meditation: The Four Noble Truths Online
January 5, 2023 •
7:00 am - 8:00 am
Elisabeth Schramm
In June 2022 I closed my therapy practice, having worked as a clinical social worker for 40 years in various mental health settings and in private practice for the latter part of my career. Yoga and meditation have been important practices in my life supporting me in work and in living in this human body.
Yoga and Meditation became essential practices during 10 years of supporting and caring for my parents, along with my sisters. I learned to manage compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma in my work, so that I was able to be steady and present for others, and to maintain my own health and well-being.
My personal practice, and commitment to attending 2 to 3 retreats each year has become an integral part of life. I have been mentored in the past by Molly Swan, Norman Feldman and currently by Jill Davey. For a number of years, I’ve participated in a Sutta Study group facilitated by Norman Feldman. During the Meditation Teacher training, I appreciated the mentorship of Jill Davey, Dawn Mauricio, Daryl Lynn Ross and Jozen Gibori. I also appreciate the on-going support and mentorship from Jacqueline and Ken!
I love offering chair yoga, and gentle flow classes, along with meditation. My teaching is informed by Trauma Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training (Kripalu). Yoga and mindfulness practices have proven to be of benefit in building self awareness in body, mind and emotion. These practices may be helpful in regulating and processing emotion. Clients and yoga students will often report a feeling of being more balanced, at ease, and a notable shift toward self acceptance and self compassion.
Description
During this first week of the new year, we will explore this teaching and consider how this understanding might be a support in how we meet Dukkha, the big and small challenges in life. The four noble truths are as follows: the truth of Dukkha or suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. More simply put, suffering exists, turning toward this reality with a quality of radical acceptance is beneficial.
Exploring the causes of suffering, such as life not being as we wish it to be, losing something or someone beloved. It is possible to meet suffering in a way that is not all consuming and harmful to ourselves. The Buddha laid out a path, a way of engaging in life that allows for a softening of suffering, and the possibility of an end of suffering. This path is know as the Eight Fold path, which will be explored further through the winter session.
Exploring the causes of suffering, such as life not being as we wish it to be, losing something or someone beloved. It is possible to meet suffering in a way that is not all consuming and harmful to ourselves. The Buddha laid out a path, a way of engaging in life that allows for a softening of suffering, and the possibility of an end of suffering. This path is know as the Eight Fold path, which will be explored further through the winter session.